Canadian SPG American Express
Feb 25, 2010, 9:12 am
#151
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: YYC
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Fairmont Plat, IHG Spire, SPG Gold, WS Gold, Hertz PC, National E Elite,
Posts: 2,768
I also recently got the aeroplan amex gold, mainly for the 20,000 sign up bonus.
Does anyone know Amex's policy on changing cards? I'd like to switch to the SPG Amex from the aeroplan Amex, to avoid an extra hit on my credit report and an extra $120 fee. Would I still get the SPG sign up bonus?
Michael
Does anyone know Amex's policy on changing cards? I'd like to switch to the SPG Amex from the aeroplan Amex, to avoid an extra hit on my credit report and an extra $120 fee. Would I still get the SPG sign up bonus?
Michael
Feb 25, 2010, 9:12 am
#152
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
Programs: AC 75K, Hertz Presidents Circle, Accor Gold, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 10,068
No way!
$120 for this card makes it a definite no go for me. Also, as far as being competitive to Avion for example, will it provide 15 day out of country medical, trip interruption insurance, baggage insurance? Likely not! Amex is also not accepted at many merchants so this is a really poor choice for a card in Canada.
Feb 25, 2010, 9:24 am
#153
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: YYC
Posts: 1,876
Kerlo, message wasn't directed at you but directed at superdawg,,sorry
Not sure I agree with the comment that it's inline with other fees on other credit cards,,,so just because other credit cards charge high fees it's okay to simply accept the norm??
Not to mention it's an Amex,,,Amex for those who may not be aware is hard to use in different parts of the world. I had an Amex years ago and found that in about 50% of the time vendors didn't accept the card. Visa and Mastercard take a 3-4% premium from a vendor, Amex takes 7-8%. Now you know why vendors don't bother with Amex your screwing the vendor everytime you use the card
Not sure I agree with the comment that it's inline with other fees on other credit cards,,,so just because other credit cards charge high fees it's okay to simply accept the norm??
Not to mention it's an Amex,,,Amex for those who may not be aware is hard to use in different parts of the world. I had an Amex years ago and found that in about 50% of the time vendors didn't accept the card. Visa and Mastercard take a 3-4% premium from a vendor, Amex takes 7-8%. Now you know why vendors don't bother with Amex your screwing the vendor everytime you use the card
Feb 25, 2010, 10:12 am
#154
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: YOW
Programs: Aeroplan 25K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite, IHG Gold, Hertz President's Club, VIA Premier
Posts: 283
The $120 fee hardly makes this a sweet deal so I'm out.
Feb 25, 2010, 10:25 am
#155
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: YWG
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 1,478
was excited, but not so much. platinum amex will give me all I need, I guess. sorry I missed the SPG mastercard.
Feb 25, 2010, 10:26 am
#156
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: NB, Canada
Programs: Fairmont, Amex MR, Marriott
Posts: 2,531
Amex takes 3-5%, depending on volume. Standard for independent restaurants is about 3.5%
So Amex costs about twice as much to take as Visa/MC, thus lower acceptance.
I find in New Brunswick most retailers take amex, but there are still some who do not.
Feb 25, 2010, 10:30 am
#157
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: NB, Canada
Programs: Fairmont, Amex MR, Marriott
Posts: 2,531
With the prevalence of CIBC Aerogold cards, I think their target market has already accepted high annual fees and will pay it.
Feb 25, 2010, 10:35 am
#158
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Toronto
Programs: SPG LT Plat, Hilton G,Priorty Club G, AC E
Posts: 2,979
What a joke...
....$120...no chance I just cancelled my Aeroplan AMEX cuz I was gonna switch to this card...my expectation was $50...so here I come CIBC Aeroplan Visa.
Feb 25, 2010, 10:39 am
#159
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Alberta, Canada
Programs: *wood gold, aeroplan
Posts: 60
$120 for this card makes it a definite no go for me. Also, as far as being competitive to Avion for example, will it provide 15 day out of country medical, trip interruption insurance, baggage insurance? Likely not! Amex is also not accepted at many merchants so this is a really poor choice for a card in Canada.
My sentiments exactly. $120 fee for an AMEX is a little steep considering I'll have to keep a Visa/MC to actually use at most retailers.
Feb 25, 2010, 10:49 am
#160
Join Date: Jul 2008
Programs: Via Preference Privilege, AC*A, Fairmont Plat, SPG Gold
Posts: 1,334
I wonder if $120 annual fee will buy the ability to transfer to Aeroplan, or will there be a restriction on transferring points as there was with the MBNA card.
I was going to apply, but since I just got an Aerogold card there's no way I'm going to maintain 2 cards with high annual fees.
I was going to apply, but since I just got an Aerogold card there's no way I'm going to maintain 2 cards with high annual fees.
Feb 25, 2010, 10:52 am
#161
Join Date: Feb 2009
Programs: Marriott Titanium, AC E50, National Exec
Posts: 516
I wonder if $120 annual fee will buy the ability to transfer to Aeroplan, or will there be a restriction on transferring points as there was with the MBNA card.
I was going to apply, but since I just got an Aerogold card there's no way I'm going to maintain 2 cards with high annual fees.
I was going to apply, but since I just got an Aerogold card there's no way I'm going to maintain 2 cards with high annual fees.
Feb 25, 2010, 11:11 am
#162
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Programs: SPG member
Posts: 31
Rather disappointing to say the least.
$120 CDN is high IMHO. To gain more popularity and differentiate with the other cards, Amex could have gone a bit more affordable or even made the first year fee-waived to make current MBNA customers migrate smoothly. I was thinking it would be in the range of $50-$75 CDN.
It will be interesting to see how much additional cards costs. I hope that they are included but not holding my breath at this point. It looks like in Canada, there is less competition so firms pretty much do whatever they want when it comes to pricing. Sigh.
I also agree with the posts that Amex is not widely used/accepted in Canada. With the MBNA card, we would put everything on it (groceries, gas, etc.) and easily get to the $30K-$40K mark annually but with less choices for acceptance and fees for primary (and additional cards), I am not so sure about this card anymore.
I have the Shopper's Drugmart MBNA as my MC backup but it might become my main one for now until I rethink all the options.
$120 CDN is high IMHO. To gain more popularity and differentiate with the other cards, Amex could have gone a bit more affordable or even made the first year fee-waived to make current MBNA customers migrate smoothly. I was thinking it would be in the range of $50-$75 CDN.
It will be interesting to see how much additional cards costs. I hope that they are included but not holding my breath at this point. It looks like in Canada, there is less competition so firms pretty much do whatever they want when it comes to pricing. Sigh.
I also agree with the posts that Amex is not widely used/accepted in Canada. With the MBNA card, we would put everything on it (groceries, gas, etc.) and easily get to the $30K-$40K mark annually but with less choices for acceptance and fees for primary (and additional cards), I am not so sure about this card anymore.
I have the Shopper's Drugmart MBNA as my MC backup but it might become my main one for now until I rethink all the options.
Feb 25, 2010, 11:23 am
#163
Join Date: Oct 2002
Programs: United Premier 1K
Posts: 1,230
I assume Amex Canada priced it at $120 so as not to cannibalize their Aeroplan Gold Card, which is also $120. Nonetheless, I too am disappointed. Hopefully at the very least the SPG card will have 2 free supplementary cards like the Aeroplan offers.
Feb 25, 2010, 3:05 pm
#164
Join Date: May 2005
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE, Alaska MVP Gold, Bonvoy Titanium, IHG Diamond
Posts: 158
Wow, what a disappointment...but I'm not really surprised. I always thought the Canadian version of the Marriott Chase Visa card was a bad deal (in terms of offering a lot less compared to the US version) but this one takes the gold now (especially for personal use). I think I might even consider the Marriott Rewards Platinum Visa card now....10 000 points, a free night stay, 1 point per $ and $75 fee with that one.
Feb 25, 2010, 3:15 pm
#165
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Ottawa
Programs: AC MM SE; SPG Plat; Hilton Gold
Posts: 247
i do not understand the complaints for the $120. Thats the norm in Canada for these type of cards. for year 1 its a no brainer as the 10,000 points cover it. In future years the the free weekend night covers it & this year its gravy (if u do not spend enough to earn that they probably do not want you).
And IT EARNS STARPOINTS.
And IT EARNS STARPOINTS.